Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 6/22/2022

Time: 7:05 p.m. ET

Venue: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA

Where to watch: Marquee Sports Network, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

DraftKings: Pirates -150, Cubs +130

BetMGM: Pirates -160, Cubs +135

Caesars: Pirates -149, Cubs +130

Cubs: 25-43

Pirates: 28-39

It is a good day to be in alumni of Foothill high school in Las Vegas. Because when a top prospect in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization comes from Foothill and has immediately made an impact through two games into his Major League debut, you know you're doing something right. And in the case of Bligh Madris, two games down, and the Pittsburgh Pirates have something to look forward to despite a very up and down first half of the season. Madris hit his first Major League home run in the 6th inning of Pittsburgh’s 7-1 win over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday to give them two out of three in this series.

It was a day for the rookies in the pirates organization to once again provide a spark in this organization. Roansy Contreras allow just one earned run in five innings of work to help lead the pirates to their third straight victory after what has been a very rough June. Madris went 1 for 4, and Daniel Vogelbach went 2 for 2 with 2 RBI.

"It's been really special," Madris said. "I don't think anyone can imagine exactly what it's going to be like when you come to the big leagues. So, I think it's pretty unexpected to think it's going to be like this. I'm just going out there and trying to help the team win, but it's been a pretty special two days. You really couldn't draw it up like this."

It’s also helped to get some sort of stability in the rotation, even if it’s been from a rookie.

"For young pitchers, they can let that unravel when they don't have their best stuff, and he still was able to go out and execute pitches, get us through five, was able to spot his fastball," Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said. "For a 22-year-old, it's only going to move upward from there."

It has not been the season that I think the pirates wish they would have had, but what I think this first half of the season has shown for a team that was struggling beyond belief for a good portion of last season, is that Pittsburgh is in a position to get better but we know that there are pieces left to be had in order to take that next step. And what I also think can be deducted from this situation is that the pirates are in good hands with who they have coming up in the ranks. And there are going to be those instances where the rookies struggle a little bit and things are not going their way. I don't think anyone is expecting any of those names and any of those young players to carry them to a playoff spot this year.

But it's more than what can be said about the Cubs and considering the fact that the Cubs continue to be a dumpster fire when they really shouldn't be one, shows you just how far the discrepancy is between Pittsburgh and Chicago. And honestly I thought the discrepancy was either going to lessen this year, or it was just gonna be done with altogether. Nevertheless, Pittsburgh is looking very good right now and Chicago does not. And that is ultimately the result of this series to this point.

I'm not thinking anything shocking is going to come out of this one. I think Pittsburgh is already put Chicago on the ropes and Pittsburgh will handle business accordingly and get a victory. Pirates win 7-4

Cubs are 13-16 against division opponents this season.

Cubs are 17-30 against right-handed starters this season.

Pirates are 14-19 at home this season.

Pirates are 67-107 in night games the past three seasons.

Cubs:
Christopher Morel (R) CF
Willson Contreras (R) DH
Ian Happ (S) LF
Jonathan Villar (S) 2B
Patrick Wisdom (R) 3B
Nico Hoerner (R) SS
Yan Gomes (R) C
Jason Heyward (L) RF
Alfonso Rivas (L) 1B
SP - Keegan Thompson

Pirates:
Ke'Bryan Hayes (R) 3B
Bryan Reynolds (S) CF
Jack Suwinski (L) LF
Daniel Vogelbach (L) DH
Michael Chavis (R) 1B
Oneil Cruz (L) SS
Bligh Madris (L) RF
Tyler Heineman (S) C
Hoy Park (L) 2B
SP - Jerad Eickhoff

Batting average: Ian Happ -- .290

Home runs: Wilson Contreras -- 12

RBI: Frank Schwindel -- 33

Wins: Keegan Thompson -- 6

ERA: Kyle Hendricks -- 5.43

Batting average: Ke'Bryan Hayes -- .265

Home runs: Jack Suwinski -- 11

RBI: Michael Chavis -- 22

Wins: Dillon Peters -- 4

ERA: JT Brubaker -- 4.11